They were the darlings I’d lovingly trained since their apprenticeships； my

three　beloved　talents：　Olive；　Butterfly　and　Stork。

Discussing　their　talents；　mastery　and　temperaments　to　the　end　of　finding

the　clue　we　were　looking　for　inevitably　led　to　a　discussion　of　my　own　life　as

well：

The　Attributes　of　Olive

His given name was Velijan。 If he had a nickname besides the one I’d given

him；　I　don’t　know　it；　because　I　never　saw　him　sign　any　of　his　work。　When　he

was　an　apprentice；　he’d　e　get　me　from　my　home　on　Tuesday　mornings。　He

was　very　proud；　and　so　if　he　ever　lowered　himself　to　sign　his　work；　he’d　want

this signature to be plain and recognizable； he wouldn’t try to conceal it

anywhere。 Allah had quite generously endowed him with excess ability。 He

could　readily　and　easily　do　anything　from　gilding　to　ruling　and　his　work　was

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superb。　He　was　the　workshop’s　most　brilliant　creator　of　trees；　animals　and　the

human face。 Velijan’s father； who brought him to Istanbul when he was； I

believe； ten years old； was trained by Siyavush； the famous illustrator

specializing in faces in the Persian Shah’s Tabriz workshop。 He hails from a

long　line　of　masters　whose　genealogy　goes　back　to　the　Mongols；　and　just　like

the elderly masters who bore a Mongol…Chinese influence and